Mnr die Waarnemende Speaker, volgens die jongste statistieke van die SA Polisiediens was meer as 2,5 miljoen mense in Suid- Afrika die afgelope drie jaar slagoffers van geweldsmisdade.
Vanaf 1 April 2003 tot 31 Maart 2006 was 2 546 294 mense in Suid-Afrika slagoffers van geweldsmisdade. Hierdie geweldsmisdade sluit in moord, poging tot moord, verkragting, gewone verswarende roof, onsedelike en gewone aanranding, aanranding met die opset om ernstig te beseer, motorkaping en roof by private wonings.
Dit beteken dat gemiddeld 848 765 mense per jaar in Suid-Afrika slagoffers is net van geweldsmisdade. Die Minister van Veiligheid en Sekuriteit, mnr Charles Nqakula, s egter dat die toekoms rooskleurig lyk wat betref misdaad in Suid-Afrika. Maar die afgelope drie jaar is 57 162 mense in Suid- Afrika vermoor. Vir hulle het die bepaling in die Grondwet, "everyone has the right to life", niks beteken nie. 'n Totaal van 380 173 mense was slagoffers van roof met verswarende omstandighede.
Bogenoemde statistieke bewys dat Suid-Afrika 'n gevaarlike land is om in te bly. Die publiek voel met reg onveilig, want hulle word beroof in hulle huise en word gekaap wanneer hulle moet ry. Misdadigers wat deur die polisie gevang word, kom te gereeld skotvry daarvan af as gevolg van gebrekkighede in ons strafregstelsel.
Die VF Plus doen 'n beroep op die regering om daadwerklik in te gryp en spoedig 'n nuwe nasionale strategie, wat die strafregstelsel totaal insluit, op te stel en prakties te implementeer. Die toekoms wat misdaad in Suid-Afrika betref, is alles behalwe rooskleurig en vereis uiters dringende optrede van die regering. Ons kan nie langer daarmee wag nie. (Translation of Afrikaans member's statement follows.)
[Dr C P MULDER (FF PLUS): Hon Acting Speaker, according to the latest statistics of the SA Police Service, more than 2,5 million people in South Africa were victims of violent crime over the past three years.
Between 01 April 2003 and 31 March 2006 2 546 294 people were victims of violent crime in South Africa. These violent crimes include murder, attempted murder, rape, robbery with aggravating circumstances, indecent and common assault, assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm, car hijackings and burglaries at private homes.
That means that on average 848 765 people in South Africa are victims of violent crime every year. However, the Minister of Safety and Security, Mr Charles Nqakula, says that the future regarding crime in South Africa looks bright. But in the last three years, 57 162 people have been murdered in South Africa. To them the clause in the Constitution, "everyone has the right to life", means absolutely nothing. A total of 380 173 people were victims of robbery with aggravating circumstances.
The above-mentioned statistics prove that South Africa is a dangerous place to live in. The public is entitled to feel unsafe because they are being robbed in their homes and hijacked when they have to drive. Too often criminals that are arrested by the police get off scot-free due to flaws in our criminal justice system.
The FF Plus appeals to the government to actively intervene and speedily set up a new national strategy, which includes the criminal justice system in its totality, and implement it in practice. As far as crime in South Africa is concerned the future is anything but bright and requires the government to take extremely urgent action. We cannot wait any longer.]